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Thoughts on tipping of shuttle bus drivers


Blondilu
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Sis and I just got back from a 7 day cruise to Alaska. The last port is Victoria BC and the stop is very short, 4 hours I think. We really didn't have anything planned other than go into to town for dinner. So, we bought the $10 shuttle ride from Princess and off we went.

 

The ride into town took about 10 minutes and the drive never spoke. The way back was even shorter. The driver gave a brief spiel about the sites and then said "You know how some people collect little souvenirs from their trips? Well, I like to collect dollar bills."

 

He thought he was being funny, but it made me uncomfortable. Maybe I'm old-fashioned but I thought it was tacky. Besides, I thought $10 was a little high for such a short trip. We've taken other similar shuttles for $2.

 

For an actual tour I would have saved out enough cash for a tip. I didn't think I would need it so I didn't have cash, but at that point I wouldn't have given him anything anyway.

 

I would be interested in what others think. If it's more common to tip than not, next time I'll have some dollars available. Thank you.

Edited by Blondilu
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Sis and I just got back from a 7 day cruise to Alaska. The last port is Victoria BC and the stop is very short, 4 hours I think. We really didn't have anything planned other than go into to town for dinner. So, we bought the $10 shuttle ride from Princess and off we went.

 

The ride into town took about 10 minutes and the drive never spoke. The way back was even shorter. The driver gave a brief spiel about the sites and then said "You know how some people collect little souvenirs from their trips? Well, I like to collect dollar bills."

 

He thought he was being funny, but it made me uncomfortable. Maybe I'm old-fashioned but I thought it was tacky. Besides, I thought $10 was a little high for such a short trip. We've taken other similar shuttles for $2.

 

For an actual tour I would have saved out enough cash for a tip. I didn't think I would need it so I didn't have cash, but at that point I wouldn't have given him anything anyway.

 

I would be interested in what others think. If it's more common to tip than not, next time I'll have some dollars available. Thank you.

 

Some people tip. Some don't. Do what you're comfortable with.

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A reasonably fit person can certainly walk that distance but not all cruise passengers know how short of a ride it really is. Yes, we've had drivers offer the same "humor" and it just puts us off. He probably thinks at least he will get something if he says it. What he doesn't realize is that he is probably likely to get even more if he is pleasant, talks a little but not too much, and doesn't ask for a tip.

 

Everyone is different and tipping is optional in this situation. :)

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Sis and I just got back from a 7 day cruise to Alaska. The last port is Victoria BC and the stop is very short, 4 hours I think. We really didn't have anything planned other than go into to town for dinner. So, we bought the $10 shuttle ride from Princess and off we went.

 

The ride into town took about 10 minutes and the drive never spoke. The way back was even shorter. The driver gave a brief spiel about the sites and then said "You know how some people collect little souvenirs from their trips? Well, I like to collect dollar bills."

 

He thought he was being funny, but it made me uncomfortable. Maybe I'm old-fashioned but I thought it was tacky. Besides, I thought $10 was a little high for such a short trip. We've taken other similar shuttles for $2.

 

For an actual tour I would have saved out enough cash for a tip. I didn't think I would need it so I didn't have cash, but at that point I wouldn't have given him anything anyway.

 

I would be interested in what others think. If it's more common to tip than not, next time I'll have some dollars available. Thank you.

 

 

Oh - so tacky!

As for bus drivers who deserve a tip: we once spent a week in Sicily with the same tour bus driver. On the final day, he arranged with his mom to make us a lunch of Arancini - actually, the best I've ever had. Now, he deserved (and got) a monster tip!

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We do thing that "others" should tip bus drivers, guides, port workers, security guards, etc. etc. etc. And we will happily watch them tip..and hope they tip enough to cover our lack of tips.

 

Hank

 

And I hope that you sleep well at night.:rolleyes:

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We do thing that "others" should tip bus drivers, guides, port workers, security guards, etc. etc. etc. And we will happily watch them tip..and hope they tip enough to cover our lack of tips.

 

Hank

 

Yikes. Just yikes.

 

Just curious. Since you do not tip, why do you think others should tip?

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We do thing that "others" should tip bus drivers, guides, port workers, security guards, etc. etc. etc...

 

You don't tip your tour guide? What about an 8 hour bus tour? You wouldn't give something to the driver and to the tour guide? Wow....

 

I know tipping is a very individual thing and people can do what they want, but your attitude and the way you conveyed your sentiments just makes me sad.

 

:(:(:(

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Please don't assume that tipping is a world wide custom. It is not. We do tip but we would never think of tipping a shuttle bus driver.

 

There are many countries where tipping is simply not the norm. Don't judge everyone by our NA customs. Tipping has moved from a thank you for good service to subsidizing an employers wage packet. Especially in the hospitality trade. Marriott sent us a piece suggesting that we tip the cleaners. Our local restaurant suggests an 18 percent tip...up from 15 percent. Sorry, it is just not on for us.

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Please don't assume that tipping is a world wide custom. It is not. We do tip but we would never think of tipping a shuttle bus driver.

 

There are many countries where tipping is simply not the norm. Don't judge everyone by our NA customs. Tipping has moved from a thank you for good service to subsidizing an employers wage packet. Especially in the hospitality trade. Marriott sent us a piece suggesting that we tip the cleaners. Our local restaurant suggests an 18 percent tip...up from 15 percent. Sorry, it is just not on for us.

 

Great point. I would not have tipped in this situation. But I think that these drivers play on this .

.

The bus driver is probably not coded as " employee getting tips" and has a wage that is acceptable, I do not tip the city bus driver, why should I tip the shuttle driver.

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It interesting how this topic does inflame passions....but only in the USA. So before folks get too upset, start losing sleep, etc...do yourself a favor and Google "guilt tipping" and read a few of the related posts.

 

Personally, we are very generous tippers when in a culture where it is expected and the employee delivers excellent direct service(s). But we do sometimes wonder how many folks stop to think about the Australian argument that it is the responsibility of the employer to pay a living wage....and nobody should have to live on tips. Think of how absurd it has become here in the USA. Cruisers routinely tip the Longshoreman who take their luggage at a US Port...despite the fact that the average Longshoreman makes over $100,000 a year. And we tip those folks to move our luggage about 3 feet to an open container (later moved by fork trucks). When in the US, I tip my barber very well, despite the fact that she (and her DH) own a nice airplane, lots of property, and more then a dozen exotic cars. Yet when I go to my barber in Mexico (where we live in the winter) I pay the 50 Peso tab (about $3) and do not tip! He does not expect a tip....but some Americans (no Mexicans) tip him anyway.....and he has privately told me that he thinks they are simply "fools who like to show off their money." So go figure.

 

A recently retired friend who was a Captain for HAL told me that once in a while he has passengers give him a tip. He said the first time it happened he felt insulted...but eventually learned to shrug it off (and put the money into the crew fund maintained on the ship). What made this even funnier is that the particular Captain happens to be a wealthy man (by nearly any measure) and told me that perhaps he should be tipping the passengers who made his wonderful career possible.

 

Hank

Edited by Hlitner
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OK, I wasn't going to post here but after reading and re-reading I am really confused Hank. You won't tip a longshoreman that handles your bags because they might make $100,000 a year (average, meaning some more, some less) but you have no problem giving your barber in the US an apparently substantial amount ("I tip my barber very well") even though you indicate they are quite well off, but you don't tip a barber in Mexico that only charges about $3 for a haircut because he doesn't expect it.

My confusion lies in how you differentiate who should get your tip and who shouldn't? Is it based on income or wealth, the work involved, or something else? Not looking to criticize or change your mind, people tip how they tip and I can't change that, just curious.

 

Just a personal note and my way only, no bearing on what others choose to do. No matter where I am, I tip based on whether it is a service I would normally tip for at home. What that persons income or pay rate is never crosses my mind. If the person I am offering the tip refuses it, that's fine, but at least I don't have to worry whether I should have tipped and didn't. The amount of the tip would reflect the quality of the service received. Again, that's just me and I have no expectation that others should do the same.

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Sis and I just got back from a 7 day cruise to Alaska. The last port is Victoria BC and the stop is very short, 4 hours I think. We really didn't have anything planned other than go into to town for dinner. So, we bought the $10 shuttle ride from Princess and off we went.

 

The ride into town took about 10 minutes and the drive never spoke. The way back was even shorter. The driver gave a brief spiel about the sites and then said "You know how some people collect little souvenirs from their trips? Well, I like to collect dollar bills."

 

He thought he was being funny, but it made me uncomfortable. Maybe I'm old-fashioned but I thought it was tacky. Besides, I thought $10 was a little high for such a short trip. We've taken other similar shuttles for $2.

 

For an actual tour I would have saved out enough cash for a tip. I didn't think I would need it so I didn't have cash, but at that point I wouldn't have given him anything anyway.

 

I would be interested in what others think. If it's more common to tip than not, next time I'll have some dollars available. Thank you.

 

Everyone seems to have their hands out for a tip. With the exception of restaurant and bar workers they are all being paid minimum wage. If you want to give them a tip then do so, but there is no reason in the world to tip a driver or a tour guide, or the guys that help on the snorkel boat, or any of these other people with their hands out.

 

A couple of exceptions are cab drivers who should get no more than 105 of the fare unless they lift a lot of suitcases, and the longshoremen who take your bags who should get $1 per bag, unless they tag them for you in which case they should get $2 because they did something for you that you could have done yourself. (BTW they are union and all make well over 70K per year without tips).

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You don't tip your tour guide? What about an 8 hour bus tour? You wouldn't give something to the driver and to the tour guide? Wow....

 

I know tipping is a very individual thing and people can do what they want, but your attitude and the way you conveyed your sentiments just makes me sad.

 

:(:(:(

 

 

Why would you tip them? Your tour guide is handsomely paid for doing their job. Remember that is is said that a fool is quickly parted from his money. That is what tipping to other than US hospitality workers amounts to, a fool parting with his money.

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We have seen a hat, basket or something with a few dollars (and maybe a 5) in it next to the driver. The drivers don't say anything but seeing this gives you the idea of tipping if you want. Its a quiet way of saying 'I take tips'.

This is OK. Seen same thing on tours too.

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OK, I wasn't going to post here but after reading and re-reading I am really confused Hank. You won't tip a longshoreman that handles your bags because they might make $100,000 a year (average, meaning some more, some less) but you have no problem giving your barber in the US an apparently substantial amount ("I tip my barber very well") even though you indicate they are quite well off, but you don't tip a barber in Mexico that only charges about $3 for a haircut because he doesn't expect it.

My confusion lies in how you differentiate who should get your tip and who shouldn't? Is it based on income or wealth, the work involved, or something else? Not looking to criticize or change your mind, people tip how they tip and I can't change that, just curious.

 

Just a personal note and my way only, no bearing on what others choose to do. No matter where I am, I tip based on whether it is a service I would normally tip for at home. What that persons income or pay rate is never crosses my mind. If the person I am offering the tip refuses it, that's fine, but at least I don't have to worry whether I should have tipped and didn't. The amount of the tip would reflect the quality of the service received. Again, that's just me and I have no expectation that others should do the same.

 

My point is simply that there is NO POINT to the entire tipping culture we have created in the USA. I tip my barber because I like her, she has been cutting my hair for over 20 years, and she gives me amazing service. But the Longshoreman who simply takes my bag and moves it a few feet (to another pile) is simply doing his job (for which he is well paid) and has honestly not earned a tip. If somebody such as yourself wants to give away their money (your right in a free society) then go for it. But understand that in some cultures your tip would be seen as an insult and patronizing. So the irony is that you are insulting the person you are trying to thank...because you insist on pushing your own culture onto others. If I were to tip my Mexican barber a few extra Pesos..he would likely hand it back thinking I made a mistake. Or, perhaps he would feel insulted...in that I am a "rich American trying to throw his money around." For him, he gets his reward by simply doing his job well and having the same customers return year after year. If he wanted to increase his income by 10% he would simply raise his price. Now if I truly wanted to make his day, I might bring him a new fishing lure (as a gift) since fishing is his passion. That would be meaningful, a gesture of friendship and thanks, and not be seen as patronizing.

 

We have had this same discussion with some Aussies...who refuse to tip anywhere, anyplace, anytime. That is the Aussie culture (although it is starting to change) and they feel as strongly about not tipping...the way you feel about tipping. When talking to Aussies about the topic I suggest that travelers should generally try to blend into the local culture...including tips. One Aussie told us about leaving a US restaurant without leaving a tip (it was an oversight based on his normal habits) and being chased by a waiter (into the parking lot) who asked him, "what did I do wrong?" Ouch,

 

So what do you do in Europe...say Italy? You go to a cafe and in the small print on the bottom of the menu it says "Coperta -- 5€. Service Charge -- 10%." And then we see fellow Americans leaving a 15% tip. So then that little Italian cafe owner gets a brainstorm and adds to the bottom of the menu - "tipping not included." Americans seeing that...will probably leave a 20% tip. But an Italian (or most Europeans) would either round the bill up to the next Euro...or leave nothing. But that cafe owner really expected nothing...but put that comment on the menu solely intended to take advantage of Americans. We were just in Russia...where the Russians rarely tip for anything. But our private tour company made sure to tell us, in the e-mail confirming our reservation, that the "suggested tip is 10% for the guide and 5% for the driver." I suspect they would not send that same e-mail to an Australian customer. So we go into a Russian restaurant for lunch and pay by a credit card. There was not even an opportunity to add a tip to the credit card total.....as tipping is something not normally done in Russia.....unless you are an American.

Hank

Edited by Hlitner
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Sis and I just got back from a 7 day cruise to Alaska. The last port is Victoria BC and the stop is very short, 4 hours I think. We really didn't have anything planned other than go into to town for dinner. So, we bought the $10 shuttle ride from Princess and off we went.

 

The ride into town took about 10 minutes and the drive never spoke. The way back was even shorter. The driver gave a brief spiel about the sites and then said "You know how some people collect little souvenirs from their trips? Well, I like to collect dollar bills."

 

He thought he was being funny, but it made me uncomfortable. Maybe I'm old-fashioned but I thought it was tacky. Besides, I thought $10 was a little high for such a short trip. We've taken other similar shuttles for $2.

 

I not only wouldn't have tipped him, I would have gone to the Princess tour desk and reported him.

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We are generally are good tippers... but sometimes service personnel can take advantage... I had one once do so, I won the last bingo jackpot. Actually split it with another payers... won about $1200 on one ticket. When the casino staff came to get my SS# and info, to pay me, the staff member said "didn't I sell you the ticket????" hint hint maybe you should give me a tip... I was so excited, it took me a minute but I realized the person who sold the ticket to me was a man, not this women who was fishing for a tip.. I did not tip and felt offended that she was trying to take advantage ...

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We cruise out of Long Beach, where I'm sure the longshoremen make $100,000+ per year. Buying a house anywhere around that area costs $400,000 for a typical 3/2 1200 square foot house. I found a 3/1 1200 square foot house in Long Beach for $659,000. A $100,000 per year salary sure isn't going to get you very far in southern California. I chuckle when I see people considering $100,000 year wages to be in the "wealth" category. Not so if you live here.

 

People make choices as to where they live. One of the things that the choices affect are the costs of housing. If you decide to live in an area where the housing costs are high, you have to live with the decision. Then again, there may not be jobs for longshoremen in areas where the living costs are lower.

 

Regardless, earning $100,000 for a job that requires zero intellectual skills is absurd. Do you know that a pilot who flies one of your regional jets makes $35,000 to start and he has to pay for his own flying training.

 

DON

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Not criticizing you Hank, you're comfortable with your way and that's fine, I was curious about your selection process or criteria. I don't necessarily agree with some of your thoughts but that's OK too. You have your way, I have mine.

 

I will continue with my way and live with it. If someone somewhere feels "insulted" with my offer of a tip they are welcome to refuse it. Funny though, I have traveled to countries where tipping is supposedly not the norm apparently but never had anyone refuse extra money...ever. Oh well, such is life. ;)

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I will continue with my way and live with it. If someone somewhere feels "insulted" with my offer of a tip they are welcome to refuse it. Funny though, I have traveled to countries where tipping is supposedly not the norm apparently but never had anyone refuse extra money...ever. Oh well, such is life. ;)

 

What I don't understand when people say this is why it is acceptable for you to continue your tipping system wherever you go regardless of the cultural norms of the places you visit?

 

When British or Australian or other people visit the US, we expect them to adhere to our (somewhat chaotic) system of tipping. In fact, people regularly chastise folks on these forums who don't understand US tipping and don't particularly want to comply.

 

So why, then, do people from the US feel it is okay to tip according to US custom when traveling outside the US? That's the kind of thing that makes people stand out as culturally insensitive.

 

Sure, the person to whom you give the tip is unlikely to refuse it. They don't want to offend you and/or they are willing to accept it. But what about all the other people who LIVE in that geography? When Americans come in and tip BIG and regularly, servers, guides, etc. get used to it and expect it from everyone -- even though they already make a fair wage to which tips are not expected to contribute.

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